Didn't Billy get caught with the battery a few years ago winning the Arkansas derby?
Brothers Joe Patin Jr. and Billy Patin were taken off their mounts at Evangeline Downs on Wednesday night by Louisiana Racing Commission stewards and suspended from riding indefinitely pending completion of an investigation by the racing commission and Louisiana State Police.
Charles Gardiner III, executive director of the Louisiana Racing Commission, confirmed that the Patins were taken off their mounts until further notice but could not provide any further details because the investigation is ongoing.
Sources have told the Paulick Report authorities are looking at multiple races as part of the investigation. The first was the seventh race on June 19, when Joe Patin – known as “T-Joe” around the racetrack – finished third aboard 7-5 co-favorite Powder Road, and Billy Patin finished fifth on Ben’s Juliette in a $7,500 claiming race over seven furlongs. A replay shows both jockeys appearing to put their mounts under restraint and racing far back in the early stages, then offering mild encouragement in the stretch.
The other races said to be under investigation were from the July 3-4 weekend, when each of the brothers rode winners.
Billy Patin won the fifth race on Friday, July 3, aboard Crooked Cooley for trainer Eduardo Ramirez and owner Brandon Hebert. Billy Patin also won the eighth race on Saturday July 4, the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Distaff, aboard Heatseeker Sharon for trainer Frank Leggio and owners John Duvieilh, Keith Hernandez and J. Earl. Joe Patin won the 12th race on July 4 aboard Nadia Anne for trainer co-owner Steve Flint and co-owner Terry Dean Brooks.
Sources said a search of the jockeys room was conducted on Wednesday night and that investigators were looking at official track photographs and video from the weekend’s races.
Both Joe and Billy Patin have run afoul of horse racing authorities in the past. Joe Patin, who began riding in 1986, battled substance abuse issues and did not ride from 2000-06 and from 2009-11 after facing criminal charges. In August 2013 he was arrested following an altercation with fellow jockey Diego Saenz.
Billy Patin was suspended in 1999 after stewards at Oaklawn Park ruled that he carried an illegal electrical device while riding 30-1 longshot Valhol to victory in that year’s Arkansas Derby. Television coverage showed a black object appearing to fall from Patin’s hand, and an Oaklawn Park tractor driver later found a device – batteries wrapped in electric tape with prongs on each end – on the ground in that area.
Patin was suspended for the remainder of 1999 by stewards, and the Arkansas Racing Commission extended his suspension to May 2004.
Joe Patin is currently fourth in the Evangeline Downs rider standings with 33 wins from 243 mounts. Billy Patin is sixth in the standings with 23 wins from 208 mounts.
New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry't Billy get caught with the battery winning the Arkansas derby..?
